Environmental effects of diesel spill likely to be minimal

A collision between a diesel tanker and a truck on SH1 at Horotiu this morning is unlikely to have caused any serious environmental effects.



Environment Waikato staff members were called to the scene of the accident at 7.30am.



Environment Waikato environmental services programme manager Ross Wightman praised the quick actions of the fire service, which blocked a nearby ditch with sand to prevent diesel flowing into the Waikato River.



Mr Wightman said it was likely some diesel had entered the ground through the bottom of the ditch, which is unsealed.



“However, this is likely to degrade naturally as it moves through the subsoil and sand and we don’t expect it to cause any serious environmental damage,” Mr Wightman said.



Environment Waikato will be monitoring any bores that could potentially be affected by this diesel as it moves through the soil.



“At this stage we believe there is only one bore that may be in the flow path,” Mr Wightman said.



“We have notified the property owners and we’ll be keeping a close eye on it.”



He said diesel spilt underneath the trucks would be removed from the scene with a digger and treated.